Roll20 Chats - From our adventure to Wuxia
Shortly after arriving in the tribal village in the country of Wuxia, after the events on the airship. There had been an altercation where Hikaru fell into a seizure, and Rodrick morphed into an Orc to help his friend.
Mason: Hikaru’s trying to be good [and keep from drinking]. BUT HIS POOR HEAD.
Jessi: Ruby passes him some tea.
Mason: He drinks tea while spilling it everywhere. Doesn’t actually get tea in his actual mouth, it's all over his pants.
Jessi: “Hm…” Ruby rummages through her purse and pulls out a metal straw and sticks it in the tea for him.
Jessi: “Pity to waste this, it is soothing licorice and slippery elm, with chrysanthemum for calming.”
Mason: Tries not to spill everywhere again. Must. Drink Tea.
Jessi: Ruby pours ample amount of fresh tea in his flask.
Mason: Doesn't spill as much.
Jessi: regards Rodrick with a scared look. Witchcraft…
Mason: This time [he] gently touches her hand in a friendly way and gives her a, trust me look.
Jessi: [Ruby] gives a nervous glance between him and Rodrick, then back to him, nods slightly and gives a weak smile with a look like, I'll try again.
Mason: Hikaru blushes embarrassed at the positive emotion shakes his head like, Why am I BEING nice!? But catches himself and looks at her confidently.
Later after Hikaru had turned bestial, Rodrick almost died, and there’s some lull during travel.
Mason: “Ruby... is that girl... Will she be ok? I feel weird for asking... but my emotions... press me to...”
Jessi: “The girl from the town? Oh I'm sure she will be, you were mighty brave to go free her from her cage during that heavy fire fight. Looking back it all happened so fast, but... she could have burned alive, it was a frightening moment.” I feel you made the right decision. A hero's decision, really.” She smiles at you.
Mason: “A hero... I only know one person I could call that... my older brother Ryuuji... he was kind and considerate. He was my hero. And a far better man than I am. Do you know he used to do that? I don't know what came over me. But I couldn't leave her, that's never happened. Armella says that's a kind of strength.” He also blushes at the thought of rescuing that poor girl.
Jessi: Ruby nods, quiet as you talk about your family. “Sounds like it runs in your veins. It most certainly is a kind of strength, for sure. The best kind, I think...” She kind of looks around at the group, quiet. She notices you blush and smiles, remembering how old you are cause you totally don't act your age most of the time.
Mason: “Oh... I see... ponders Thank you Ruby... I think... it might be ok to actually call you friend. That's hard for me... I think that maybe, I can try to let go a little.”
Jessi: Blinks, realizing for the first time you called us friends. “Oh... oh of course, sweetie. I can imagine you're close to only a few.” She glances in Rodrick's direction.
Mason: “He took me in after my dad and brother were killed. He saved me more than I can ever repay. That's why I got so angry. I'm sorry.”
Jessi: “Oh... oh I see...” She looks back between you two with a very sad and understanding look. “I can see why you treat him with such respect and concern.”
Mason: “He practically is my uncle. More uncle than my real one.” Fire and steel enter [his] eyes.
Jessi: “I'm... sorry for being so abrasive when I first saw... what he could do. I was just scared for you, mainly.” She thinks back to the ship, and how helpless she felt watching his seizure.
Mason: “That's alright. I'm used to being treated this way. But not him. He stayed at home quiet with his family.”
Jessi: Sees your expression change regarding your uncle, and pushes no further about him. “I see…”
Mason: “I will try to be more civil. You remind me of my mother. She was sweet and caring. Thank you…”
Jessi: “Your mother sounds like she was a wonderful woman. I'm sure she'd be proud of you.”
Mason: He turns his head and hides wiping his teary eyes. “She was very kind. She's where I got my tail. And all my stories.”
After an altercation between Trident and Rodrick, and disagreements in the group about what choices we should make.
Chantry: Rodrick is so furious that he has run off and hid to try and calm down so the group doesn't see him crying in frustration.
Chantry: [Some time passes.] Still leaning up against a stump crying.
Mason: Hikaru goes looking for Rodrick. “Where in this Tarj forsaken forest is that gnome! Rodrick what... Oh... Um... Rodrick?”
Chantry: Sniffs. “What?”
Mason: Fiddles with his hands like he's unsure how to proceed. Looks about for someone to help. He sighs and plops himself down next to Rodrick. Grabbing a secret bottle of gin, passes it to you. “I was savin that for when I may need it but it looks like you need it more 'an me.”
Chantry: Picks at the ground with a stick, while trying to stifle his sobs. “Thanks.” He downs the whole bottle. “I'll replace it sometime... hic!”
Mason: Grabs a rock and throws it at the stick.
Chantry: “She just... they all... They're just...” Sob. “…just like everyone else... They see who I am for what's on the outside, and don't care about what's inside. They take one look at me and run the other direction because of who my parents are...”
Mason: “Always were a stickler for how people saw you. That's why you're usually at home.”
Chantry: That's why Rolland runs the shop. Not Rodrick. Not this... even if this is how I'm most like myself.” At this, he gestures to himself.
Mason: Hikaru sighs. “It's who you want to be that matters. Isn’t that what you always told me?”
Chantry: “Yeah, but it's different for you. You embrace who you are. You aren't hunted down just because you're different. I've had to hide before... so I didn't get killed... and what about my family? When can they come out of hiding?”
Mason: “They did kill my family. I shoot and I don't run and hide cuz it's who I am. I dunno when they can come out. I'll never know really. We jus' do what we can.”
Chantry: Sucks air through his teeth. “Well I'm tired of it. Tired of hiding. Tired of being hunted like some rat stealing cheese. Tired of having to hide nearly everything I care about just because it's considered different by people who don't know the difference between a furnace and a hole to stick their head in!” Throws a rock at a nearby boulder.
Mason: “I can't say as to that I blame ya.” Drinks his really bitter and cold coffee and shudders from the taste of old coffee.
Jessi: As Ruby is heading back to where she thought the group was, she hears a rock bounce and stops, still; she approaches carefully and hears voices. She waits, overhearing you both talking about being outcasts.
Chantry: Starts turning the pilot light on his flamethrower on and off. “This is all I'm good at. Destruction and mayhem... Nothing beautiful comes from my existence. Sometimes the only thing keeping me from taking the fight to their main gate is my wife and kid...”
Mason: “Ha Rodrick you created that kid. And those hands create many things. At least you give. All I know is violence. I've only recently learned what friends are and restraint.”
Chantry: “Sure, my hands create. Bombs, flamethrowers, guns... tools of destruction and mayhem.”
Mason: “What about those tools you gave the old farmers? the ones that help them despite their old backs and weak arms.”
Chantry: “Failed attempts at making mechanized devices to take the fight to them... Honestly, I've been angry for so long all I feel anymore is hate and emptiness. I want to be able to take my family out of hiding...”
Mason: “This land seems more tolerant. Maybe with that Tribe you could....”
Jessi: Ruby listens quietly, realizing she's let her own fears control her actions too long; that the two of you really are trying your best to do what's right, and what's good, and that should be what matters most.
Chantry: Rodrick sniffs. “They have no use for mechanized stuff... No use for a tinkerer. I'd be just another refugee.”
Mason: “Maybe not... but you'd be safe and your kid and wife could be out in the sun.”
Jessi: “Ahem…” Coughs a little as she walks up slowly to you both. “Just… checking in with everyone to see how they're doing. That was… some fight. You guys did great out there.” She looks a little awkward at interrupting.
Chantry: “My kid deserves to have a childhood, Hikaru... He deserve's to...” Sniff. He turns his head, sees Ruby, and hides his tear stained face, and mutters “Hi, Ruby.”
Mason: “Just another day.” He pats the ground next to him as though inviting her to sit next to us.
Jessi: Ruby smiles nervously “S..sorry for interuptin' you fellas.” Sits down nearby, and sheepishly looks at the ground.
Mason: Hikaru shrugs.
Chantry: “It's fine... I'm just...” Sob. “Blubbering like usual when I try to explain what I am... no one understands, and so I get punished for it.”
Mason: “For looking different. For having pointed ears, a bushy tail. For marrying a kitsune woman...”
Jessi: She's silent for a moment, unsure what to say “I… well...” She bites her lip. “I'm.. really sorry, Rodrick, for how I've acted around you. I just… you're a good man.”
Mason: Hikaru looks sidelong at Ruby and raises both eyebrows a little surprised.
Chantry: Rodrick looks sheepishly at Ruby. “I try to be. Most people can't get past... this...” Shifts his face from Gnome to true Changeling.
Mason: “Gotta admit it scared me the first time.”
Chantry: He snorts. “Scared you? You damn near blew my head off with my own cannon shield!”
Chantry: “Took me two weeks to patch that hole in the ceiling of my shop.”
Mason: “Ha! Could you blame me I was 7!”
Jessi: Ruby, startled, looks away through the forest. “Being on this trip, where we've been… being here... It's all so different. I never grew up with notions of magic, or other races. I just knew what I knew, and nothing more. It's just been... a lot to take in.”
Mason: “It is different. All these things sound like the stories my haha-ue told me. I thought they were just stories.”
Jessi: Looks back at Rodrick and tries to keep a straight face, although she's still a bit shaken by it. “I'm sorry… it is still strange to me. I've been raised--not by my parents, but by culture, by the church--that magical things are something to be feared. Something that can hurt or kill you or your loved ones. It's just taken some adjusting. It may yet still, but... I'm glad I've met you. Both of you...”
Chantry: “No... but... still...” He mutters to himself.
Jessi: “I know you're not like that--what the church teaches! I mean...” She looks frustrated for a moment. “Just... they're so focused on what's right and wrong, but then at the same time, they want us to learn more and more, and hunt for knowledge! Wouldn't learning about others, about… magic, be gaining knowledge? I don't know...” She sighs and looks down.
“But...” She shakes her head and looks up. “You're more than that, you're.. you. That's what matters.”
Mason: “If I believed in an almighty god it wouldn't be him. Why would a god make all these things then try to kill them all? But... I'm hardened and closed to it. It killed my father, my brother and I don't know where my mother went. If they seek knowledge then seek it don't destroy it.” He throws some gravel.
“That's what we try to be every day. Ourselves. It takes a lot to keep our heads up.”
Jessi: She quietly thinks about that.
Mason: Hikaru looks shaken, as if remembering the fox.
Chantry: “Don't push that belief completely aside... Magic can and IS dangerous. It's not something to be played with... I've seen it do terrible things in my time... but not everyone who uses it is bad. My wife and kid, it's not their fault, nor mine, that they can use it. It's just part of them, just like how your red hair and green eyes is part of you or Hikaru's tail and ears are a part of him.”
Mason: Hikaru fluffs his tail almost playfully, like a child.
Jessi: “It's admirable to… be able to be true to yourself, for sure.” She toys with some of her hair, pensive.
Chantry: “Me? I'm the worst hypocrite. I keep preaching that people need to be not so judgmental, and then I go and judge myself... I hate... This.” He gestures to himself, still in true changeling, before shifting back to Rodrick.
Jessi: “We can't choose where or what we're born in to, but we can choose where we go and what we do. I want to be on your side.” She looks at you both. “You guys deserve to be happy. To live happily. I'm sorry it's so hard.”
Mason: “I would like it if you were. You have been kind, although troubled on occasion. You reminded me that kindness is a strength.” Turning to Rodrick, “Well Rodrick the fight isn't over. Maybe we can't change the world to allow us to fit in it. But maybe we can change our world.”
Chantry: “Maybe... Maybe you're right. Violence hasn't changed anything... I know that for sure. I regret what I used to do at night, attacking those who hunt us down... They were just doing what they thought was right, and I made them fear us even more... I'm sorry, Hikaru.” He loks at Hikaru with a sad look.
Mason: “The number of people I've killed is no less. There's a reason my aim is so lethal.” He returns the sad look.
Chantry: Flicks his flamethrower on again. “There's a reason this works so well... It's got a body count higher than I care to try and remember, but can recall every single one... each one haunts my dreams, you know... innocents who died to my anger and hate for those who didn't know any better...”
Mason: “I wish they haunted mine. I lost compassion for a while. I think that's what I felt for that girl.” His eyes dart to the ground. “It felt so foreign to save her, Rodrick.”
Chantry: “I know, Hikaru... I felt that same exact feeling when a little boy crawled into my shop one day, starved and half beaten to death... I had been at war for so long, Hikaru... I had been waging a one man battle for so long, with no end in sight... and then you showed up... It was shortly after your tenth birthday that I finally hung up my role as The Firelord... That's been so long ago...”
Chantry: Looks at Ruby. “Sorry, I'm probably not making it any easier for you to trust me...” He turns flamethrower off.
Jessi: “No, no it's okay... I've... had my own share of vengeance in my life as well.” She glances over. “You both have many strengths. I'm sure that's why Mr. Luther chose you for this team. For these missions.” She looks off into the forest again. “We can definitely save some people here. Innocent people.”
Mason: “I can see that look in your eyes Ruby, The look of one who's killed. It's different than some of the others. But it's who we are. Now can we be different. I don't know if I can set aside my rage for Uncle Kotowari.”
Chantry: Looks at Ruby. “I still have no idea why Mr. Luther sent for me that day... He must see something in me that I don't, because I can't get past my demons.”
Jessi: “Mr. Luther's a good man. He sees a lot of good in other people.” She smiles. “He's like a second father to me, so... I tend to take his missions a little over-serious. He knows it's a win-win for everyone. It is a win for him, and a win for us, because he knows this freedom, this travel, it can help us find what we're seeking for too.”
“Be it... Power,” she looks at Hikaru. “Or a new home,” she looks at Rodrick. “Or... wherever the road takes us.”
Mason: “It hasn't shown me what I wanted. But it’s shown me other things. Things that heal. I picked up alcohol when I was 10 and this is the longest I've been sober since. We'll see what those things are though. If they stay the same or if they change.”
Chantry: “I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for how you made your early living, Hikaru... you watched from an early age as I snuck out every night and ki.... murdered.”
Mason: Hikaru stares off. “Rodrick you may have influenced some, but I had murder in my heart from the moment they killed my family.”
Chantry: “Yes, but It definitely didn't help that your surrogate father figure barely took time to take care of you... I was always building a new bomb or gun... always working on my super-mech... Always thinking of new ways to kill... only thinking of myself....”
Jessi: “…Sounds like you were thinking of your self-preservation. And your family... Many people do immoral things for noble reasons.”
“I grew up thinking so much in black and white, but...” Sighs. “It’s really such a complex world.”
Mason: “Yes, very much so. Complex enough that a simple bullet won't change it.”
Chantry: Scoffs. “There was nothing moral about what I was doing... I was terrorizing innocents just for believing something different. I was attacking villages simply for following Tarj. I was... am... so angry... so.... violent.”
Jessi: “Well… I can't guarantee I won't be frightened by some of the things you do... and that I probably will do things that irritate you as well. But I can guarantee I'll do my best to serve in this team with you both. I can guarantee I will... be a friend to you both.”
“As for that flame thrower of yours, as long as it's pointed toward the bad guys, I'll be happy.” She smiles.
Mason: “Speaking of.... frightened.”
“Rodrick, what was that....” His face darkens.
“What happened to me?”
Jessi: Ruby’s smile fades and she looks at Hikaru, concern in her eyes.
Chantry: “You mean... the fox?”
Mason: Hikaru’s eyes flash at Rodrick.
Chantry: “That was something I've experienced before, when you were around 10. It was actually the reason I hung up The Firelord. You snuck out and followed me one night, and when I got overpowered you burst out of the trees and saved me. You were throwing arcs of lightning off your claws, and you were a full-on Kitsune... Just like the pictures you used to draw of your Mom.”
Mason: “But mom never.... got that... big... she was always a little fox, just bigger than a dog. She was gentle.”
Chantry: “Well, obviously she did at some point, or you wouldn't have drawn them... Or you saw someone change.”
Mason: His eyes glaze, and he has visions of blood and a hurt Rodrick… lightning everywhere, claws and teeth…
Chantry: “Also, Hikaru... Don't mistake gentle and kind heartedness for harmless...”
Clicks on the Flamethrower and looks at Ruby. “It has a name, you know... It's one of the only fond memories I have of my Father... He used to tell me stories, and one that stuck with me was about a warrior... the strongest warrior he ever saw... and I named my flamethower after him. This...” gesturing to the flamethrower, “is... Saar.”
Jessi: She looks at the flamethrower, pondering the name... it sounds so simple, but strong. She's never really heard of any famous warriors, or studied them before.
Mason: “Tarj… my head hurts.”
Jessi: Ruby puts her hand on Hikaru's back.
Mason: “Isn't Saar the name of that constellation?” He glances over a little vulnerably.
Chantry: “That one?” Points at a group of stars in the darkening sky. “Yeah... my Father used to tell me stories of how those got there... He used to say a good friend put them there.”
Mason: “A friend? Put them there? Rodrick, how can someone put stars in the sky?”
Chantry: “Even I don't understand that one, Old Friend... My Father said a lot of odd things...”
Mason: “Yeah he did. Haha-ue talked of unicorns and magic, but stories... right?”
Chantry: “I'm afraid they're more real than Haha-ue led you to believe. My Father never tried to tell me otherwise. Quite the opposite, I'm afraid. He made sure I knew without a shadow of a doubt... that magic... is real.”
Mason: “Haha-ue didn't say they weren't real. She told me like they were but... how can they be; wouldn't that mean... the gods.... no, gods don't exist.”
Chantry: Rodrick lifts his shirt and arm to show a large patch of what look like puncture marks. “This was a gift from my Father. I told him that magic wasn't real and that I was tired of him trying to force me to believe so... so... to show me... he attacked me... with magic.”
Mason: Shudders.
Chantry: “See the slight black tint to them? That is remnants of shadow magic, left over from over half my lifetime ago...”
Mason: “Sigh... this journey gets more and more interesting. Well should we head back?”
Jessi: Ruby talks quietly. “Perhaps so, only if you are ready to go. The others are just gathering their things.”
Mason: “You ready old friend?”
Chantry: He puts his shirt back down. “I think I'm going to stay here for a bit longer... I'm not ready to see that... that... woman...”
Mason: “Tch, I don't know that I blame you. I'll head back. Don't stay too long, Rodrick.” Hikaru stands. He touches Ruby's head very gently in a grateful sort of way, and heads off.
Chantry: He looks at Ruby. “Thank you. It's been far too long since someone treated me decently. Usually it's less talking and more bullets.”
Jessi: Feels a kind warmth as she watches Hikaru leave, and looks over at Rodrick. “You're welcome... We all deserve decency, and an ear to listen. I appreciate you being so open with me. It's… helped me to understand more.”
Chantry: “I only wish others were willing to open their minds... Well, I suppose we don't want to get left behind...” He stands up. “Shall we?”
Jessi: She follows after. “Sounds fair. Perhaps some of the others will warm up over time, but we shall see.”
After further exploration in the forest, we killed the last of the Kenku in one of the neighboring villages. We started picking through the things they left behind for any clues as to their purposes.
Riley: Alastair, taking a swig of some alcohol. “Do you want some Hikaru? Oh wait... I forgot... you can't.”
Mason: He glares at you viciously.
Jessi: Ruby hears the sounds of newly started fighting from outside the tent, and moves to spy on what’s going on before heading out into a new fray.
Mason: Hikaru strides confidently out towards the fight.
Aaron: Azandar follows after, and waits outside the tent.
Chantry: Rodrick hustles to keep up with Hikaru. “You and your damn long legs!”
Mason: Hikaru calls without looking back, “Keep up little guy!”
A fight ensues with a deadly super soldier, that won’t seem to go down. Every bullet, every wound, seems to have no effect.
Mason: Hikaru looks at Ruby, visibly shaken. His tail is completely bristled. He appears really uncomfortable.
Jessi: She looks back at you, also very uncomfortable about the situation... This woman should definitely be dead by now.
Nick: Thorin shouts loudly outside, "Burn the Witch!!"
Mason: “Can we uh.... not touch that thing ever again, miss?”
Jessi: “I'd prefer that...” They’d ended back up in the tent after the fray. Ruby starts grabbing anything that seems interesting in the tent prior to leaving. Anything that could be a clue as to what’s going on.
Mason: Hikaru hurriedly looks around for anything else.
Jessi: “So,” Ruby starts as she stuffs things into her bag, “You and Rodrick haven't ever come across someone like that before? It's not... Magic?” She looks sideways over at you.
Mason: “I don't know what it is. I have... magical blood. But I come across as much magic as you do every day. The lightning the Kenku used was new to me. Only the stories told me about magic before.” He scratches his ears awkwardly.
Jessi: “I see....” She looks pensive and considers that.
Nick: Thorin drags the body of the re-animating villian out into the middle of camp and ties her up. He then grabs a large stick and begins to draw large target circles around the woman's body. He then tries to signal for the Airship to shoot the woman.
Jessi: Ruby comes out of the tent with armfuls of stuff, see's your work on the ground. Her eyes grow wide, and she turns and hurries out of the way of any airship activity.
Mason: Following Ruby out of the tent carrying as much as he can, he feels the ground rumble as they hurry away from the target. “Holy cow!”
Nick: Thorin yells to airship, “We need to burn her!!”
Riley: Not able to hear, Alastair pushes forward on the controls and lands airship on the woman's body.
Jessi: Ruby cries out as the earth shakes, “What in tarnation!?!”
Mason: Hikaru stumbles, and almost falls over from impact. “Why the hell do we always have people who can't just bloody shoot things!? Oh, pardon my language Miss Ruby!”
Ryu Y.: Trident, running nearby, “That's the swearing spirit!!”
Jessi: She stops and turns around. “Well I---I suppose that was--hopefully--effective. More than our guns and bullets were, anyway?”
Mason: “Let's hope dear Miss Ruby.”
Jessi: After staring a moment, Ruby exclaims. “Oh my-- Well... it is grotesque, but as human as she looks, I'm not sure what that was.”
Mason: “Mmm. That's an accurate thought Miss Ruby.”
Riley: Alastair still knows very little of what's going on, but parks the airship and makes his way to the door. He begins helping get the rescued prisoners on board so they can return to their village.
Aaron: Azandar is still shaken from all the events. He seems in a daze.
Chantry: Rodrick lifts helmet and walks to Azandar. "Come on, Friend. Let's get out of here." Passes him a small flask. "Drink this, it'll help."
Aaron: He takes the flask, and drinks a bit from it. “Ugh...the last time I saw one of those things, a whole unit of mine was destroyed.”
Ryu Y.: Listening to all the chatter, Trident makes her way around the scene. She picks up a rifle that had been blasted from the tent, looking it over.
Chantry: "That's terrifying... I've never seen anything like that before, but I have dealt with things of a not natural origin."
Aaron: “Right. A changeling, eh? I've only heard of your kind in legend and myth. It is an honor to be in the presence of one.”
Chantry: Rodrick’s eyes widen "That.... That's... not the usual response people give..."
Aaron: “Not to me either, friend.” He grins as she shows his elvish ears.
Chantry: "I understand, but your kind isn't quite as shunned, at least in my experience.”
Jessi: Speaking quietly to Hikaru. “It--she... whatever it was, it was speaking the language of the Krussin people. Albeit, so was Trident...”
Jessi: “But... there's something I don't understand.” She places all the papers she gathered on a flat surface.
Mason: “I don't know that language myself. What don't you understand Miss Ruby?”
Jessi: “Well... Those people--they are well known for being so devoted to Tarj, that they will not let anything stand in the way of spreading his love and knowledge through Terra. Many people are not keen on magic, as you know.” She looks over at you with an intense gaze. “But they.... are as intense as a summer’s scorch. They would not stand for anything magical.”
“For someone that seems to be… related to them in some way? At least in terms of the spoken language... it's interesting to see someone of that history turn toward using and growing the use of magic.”
Mason: “That is strange. It hadn't occurred to me, Miss Ruby.”
We’ve returned the prisoners to their town, although the celebration was cut short. Horns blare through the forest. Church horns. The group had been found by their airship, and inadvertently led the church right to the tribe. Ruby, Armella, Trident and Thorin are on the ship with James Davenport. Rodrick and Hikaru are down on the ground, hiding amongst the trees. Alastair, blocking the path of the hierophant, tries to stall for time. They begin asking for Armella by name.
Chantry: Rodrick begins to literally shake in anger at the sound of the horns he has learned to loathe.
Jessi: Ruby grabs onto Armella's hand before she tries to leave the ship, her eyes wide.
Jessi: “Miss 'Mella... You... you can't go. I can't believe you'd do anything bad, they must have the wrong person. You're the most righteous one on this darn expedition! You're... you're as pure as a newborn lamb! That can't be true... If the church would still consider you of all people, a lawbreaker, a sinner, then what...” She looks frustrated. “What hope do the rest of us poor sinners have?”
DM: Creating a circle of truth around him and Alastair, who is outside on the ground, the hierophant prompts further. “Do you know where she is?”
Riley: Alastair swallows, "Why would you think I would know that?" Ahem. He stutters a bit. “She is on a mission for Mr. Luther, my employer. She was to escort a man of import.”
Chantry: Rodrick still shakes uncontrollably with rage, but somehow manages to not attack.
Mason: Hikaru keeps searching through the trees. “Rodrick, where are you friend?”
DM: The hierophant raises an eyebrow. “Is Armella on the vessel?”
Riley: Alastair pauses. “She may be... I'm not entirely sure...” She could be on a different part of the airship, he thinks, fighting against the circle of truth.
DM: “Do you know where she is?”
Riley: “No.” Not exactly where…
DM: The hierophant pushes past, making his way to the airship with his associates in tow.
Riley: Alastair follows after hurriedly. “Where are you going? I'd help... I'm an ex-con after all… and, and I'm an ex-cop too.” He tries desperately to get in the way.
DM: The hierophant stares down his nose at you, and continues walking on, saying nothing further to you.
Riley: Alastair continues to follow them, trying to think of a way to get their attention.
Chantry: Rodrick continues to contemplate, wondering if he could shape shift into Armella and throw off her pursuers. Or they could disguise her… dunk her head in my grease bucket. “Maybe I can shift into a likeness of Tarj…”
Hikaru finally finds Rodrick. Back inside the ship, Ruby and Trident scramble to try to find a way to hide or disguise Armella. They aren’t sure of her reaction to all of this, but are happy she’s complying. Ruby pulls out clothes and wigs to put on, and Trident keeps pacing, an eye out for what’s going on outside. They’d just finished stowing all of Armella’s armor in the hold.
Ryu Y: “I could… hit you in the face. Bruise it and swell it up a bit. They might not be able to tell it’s you.” She tries to be sincere, despite her callous attitude.
Riley: Outside, Alastair tries anything he can. “So, what’s your name? How about you, do you have a favorite color? Your birthday coming up soon, huh? I can give you a great birthday present…” Like a bomb, he thinks to himself.
Watching them almost reach the ship, “WAIT! I can’t let you search it.” He pauses for a moment. “It’s the property of Mr. Luther. He’s a prominent figure… You don’t want him angry… What makes you think she is in there? I must contact him before I allow you to search it.”
Suddenly, as the hierophant is about to ascend the ladder to the ship, the vessel lists upward, out of his hands. Thorin, at the controls, begins to fly the ship out of there before anything else can happen. He exclaims, "Did I do that!?!"
Riley: Alastair quickly takes out his hand crossbow, with a rope tied to it, and shoots the ship.
The arrow strikes true and wedges itself in between two planks. He holds on and the rope tightens, quickly pulling him up into the air.
Riley: He salutes the hierophant with a hand as he grows smaller and smaller in the sky. He climbs up, and makes his way in to the cabin. “Who's idea was it to move the ship?”
Nick: Thorin looks over with a dwarfish smile, “I would have come back for you.”
Pointing out the window, he continues. “I am using my drone to guide Hikaru and Rodrick to a meeting spot.”
Riley: “Alright... I'll take the wheel... Tell me where we're meeting them?” Alastair winces at the rope burns on his hands.
Nick: Thorin shrugs. “Not sure yet; wanted to make sure we made a getaway.”
After they gain some distance, they drop the airship in a clearing of trees and pick up Rodrick and Hikaru, who, together, followed Thorin’s drone. Ruby seems extremely concerned about fleeing from the church, and everyone tries to think of a plan.
Chantry: Rodrick looks around after catching his breath. “My two cents is we should just turn around and destroy their airship, them, and everything about them. No evidence, no case. We would have deniability and could make the truth up as we see fit...”
Riley: “If I take the airship and you go back to Mr. Luther another way... Then the church will question me. They will search the airship and find nothing... I can also tell them that you guys didn’t trust me, so you took off.” He thinks more. “Then I could sell it, and return to Mr. Luther. Or…” He looks at Rodrick. “We could sneak attack, and steal their airship. I could kill them afterward. We could blame it on the Kenku.”
“As long as we can get Davenport back to Luther. Armella can escort him, then I can tell the church she's still on her mission without lying.
Jessi: Ruby ponders on all of that. “True... but they're looking for Armella. They’d wanna take her back to their capital for punishment.”
Riley: “So you have to be smart and creative...” The ship now on an auto-pilot mode with an automaton, he stands.
Jessi: “If they do find her, I don't think they'll let her complete her job, I think they'll say their mission is higher priority.”
Riley: “If you'll excuse me...” He heads out and goes to find Roderick.
Mason: Hikaru sighs. “I’ll go check on him too.” He nods to Armella.
Chantry: Rodrick kicks a bucket off the side of the airship, then sits on a crate and lights his pipe. "Damn church... they all need to die..."
Riley: Alastair pipes up. “Roderick?”
Chantry: He looks up, seeing Alastair. "What?"
Riley: “What you said back there... They murdered your family?”
Chantry: “Not all of them... only because they haven't found them...”
Riley: “They murdered mine too...not my real family. The people who took care of me...” He pauses. “That's not all...What you said about their own law. It’s true.”
Chantry: “The church is nothing but an overzealous organization that cares nothing about who you are... they only care about what you are, and if that's magic, you don't matter.”
Mason: Hikaru approaches Alistair and Rodrick. “Ain't that the truth, Rod.”
Chantry: “You know just as well as I, Hikaru... the church is nothing but a bunch of murderers.”
Riley: “No one is arguing that they are good... just that we shouldn't kill them unless they attack us first. Politics.”
Chantry: “They DID attack me first.”
Riley: “The past doesn't matter to politics...”
Mason: “That's the truth. More or less.”
Rodrick: “Politics doesn't matter to me. To hell with politics. My family was living peacefully far from their reach, but nooo! They couldn't leave us the FK alone!” He kicks a box next to him.
Riley: “Remember Mister Luther. He gave you a job... And what of us?” Do you want the church to retaliate? The church doesn't get even they get ahead.”
Chantry: He mumbles under his breath, “Not if I get ahead first...”
Mason: “But we were trying to change, remember? The Firelord wasn't a good place for you.”
Rodrick: “The Firelord wasn't a good place for me because you were a child. I had to care for you. If I were to die....”
Mason: Hikaru comes over to sit next to Rodrick. “If we go on in guns blazin it'll feel great. But we have to protect your kid and wife. What will THEY do if you die?”
Chantry: “They don't even know I'm alive...”
Riley: Alastair stops surprised... he didn't know that Rodrick was married.
Chantry: “They're hidden far from here, and haven't seen me in years. I mean... they probably think I'm dead...”
Riley: “Maybe you will see them. But not if you are dead.”
Mason: Hikaru’s voice is icy. “So just kill yourself instead. It doesn't matter if they never see you once. Right?” He looks at you with the pain of a child whose parents are gone.
Riley: “Look at it this way... we're saving a fugitive the church. That's got to count for something.”
Chantry: “I just.... I'm so pissed at them. They MURDERED my family. Everyone I know and love, save for Sadi and Nyxx.”
Mason: He sighs. “I know Rod. I know.”
Chantry: “Saving one doesn't remove the stain from my life... but it might help, I guess...”
Riley: Alastair leaves quietly without a word, and is gone for about ten minutes. He comes back with alcohol.
Mason: “Better than killing yourself, Rod.”
Riley: He hands some to Rodrick. “Not for you Hikaru, you’re not allowed to drink.”
Chantry: He takes the booze. “Cheers. Here's to the downfall of the church.” He downs it in one go.
Mason: Hikaru grumbles and takes a drink from his flask of the blackest of coffee. He lights a cigarette and takes a smoke, then hands it to Rodrick.
Riley: “Who knows... maybe if we wait... we'll have a better opportunity to destroy them.”
Mason: He grins maliciously.
Chantry: Rodrick glares at Hikaru as he puffs on his pipe. “You know I don't use those new-fangled things...”
Mason: Hikaru scoffs and offers to Alistair.
Riley: He looks at it... takes it and puffs, then coughs.
Mason: “Ever smoked kid?” He says, trying to sound older than the 18 year old he is.
Riley: He quietly comments, “Nah, too young.” Alastair keeps trying to smoke the cigarette and coughs a bit occasionally.
Mason: Hikaru glances sidelong at Alistair and claps a hand on his back to stop his coughing.
Riley: “I’m fine.” Coughs.
Chantry: Rodrick tamps out his pipe, stows it, and stands up. “Well, temper has cooled... shall we join the rest of them?”
Mason: “Might as well.”
Riley: “Why not... maybe they know what they want us to do.”
Our group gathered to decide where to go from here, and how to keep everyone in one piece. For the moment they’re heading into the capital city, hoping the busy port will buy them some time.
Mason: “Miss Ruby, ma'am. We need to make sure she doesn't run off.” He glances at Armella, and whispers, “I'm a little nervous she's gonna try to play hero like she always does.”
Jessi: She quietly responds, “Absolutely.... I think that would be good to do. Can you keep a close eye on her?”
Mason: “I will try Miss Ruby Ma'am.”
Riley: Alastair, speaking to the rest of the group in their meeting room, continues the primary conversation loudly. “To be honest... there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I think we should split up, but I ultimately will go with miss Ruby Penington's choice of plan.”
“Personally…I actually think that splitting the group would be good because then we can mislead the church. But I'll be okay either way...”
Chantry: Rodrick chimes in, leaning back in a chair. “Well, if we sell the airship it literally becomes a dead end...”
Riley: “But then they would go directly to mister Luther. I did tell them Armella worked for him...”
Emily: Armella chimes in, “We could sell it to Davenport, so the ship could still end up with Luther?”
Riley: Alastair looks contemplative. “We could try and switch airships with the church? Or... we could pay a "tithe" to show our devotion to the church...”
Emily: “I think we should make a decision and run with it.” She seems frustrated.
Riley: “What if we don't do any evasive action... but just take everything back to mister Luther?”
Jessi: Ruby sighs. “Well, we can't go back over the sea with them tailing us--it's a several days trip, and they'll catch up to us.”
Riley: “Alright, then what is our plan?” He looks at Rodrick. “Hm… wait. Do you have different identification for each….identity?”
Chantry: Rodrick cracks a broad grin. “YES! As a matter of fact.”
Riley smiles, knowing just what they need to do.
Riley: “Huh…Where did you get a wig?”
Ruby is putting the finishing touches on Armella, who is wearing a new outfit and a blond wig. They decided to disguise her, and let Rodrick—Rolland—help distract the hierophant.
Nick: “Remember, Ms. Pennington and her bag of tricks?”
He nods to Ruby’s oversized handbag and she smiles.
Riley: “You just happen to have... a wig?”
Jessi: Ruby nods, happily.
Chantry: Rolland walks into the room ready to go, wearing an evening frock coat, top hat, and an ornate cane.
Riley: Alastair looks amused at Ruby. “So... just checking... you doesn't need to change me at all right?”
Jessi: She smiles, “Nope, you're good. No wig for you.”
Riley: He teases. “Aww, I wanted a pink one...”
Chantry: Nodding at Ruby and Armella with a charming smile, “You should give her a giant frilly exotic dress.”
Riley: Alastair pipes up to be helpful. “I have red dye if you need it?”
He starts trying on some of the dozens of hats laid out from Ruby’s purse. Most clash with his red hair. Hikaru stands nearby, dressed in traditional Wuxian garb with a straw hat.
Riley: He mutters under his breath, “What would the church people do if I suddenly started hitting on them...”
Jessi: Ruby hears him, but is not really paying attention as she’s working on Armella. “Hmmm, I'm not sure if they'd swing that way.”
Ryu Y.: Trident walks in, her hair cut and styled completely differently. “I need a hot spring bath, anyone interested?”
She looks around at the group. She, Mr. Davenport, Armella, Thorin, and Hikaru were meaning to go into town. It was imperative they left before the hierophant ship showed up.
Nick: Thorin throws his hands up like being on a rollercoaster, in agreement with the hot spring.
Riley: “I believe I'm staying. Although I wouldn't say no to a hot spring bath...”
Chantry: Rolland is sitting on a chair with his feet up on a box, acting kind of like he's just along for the ride and above working... rich, snobby, and more important than the lower-class. He doesn’t respond, as he’s planning to wait on the ship as well. He seems to be enjoying the light from the window.
Jessi: Ruby packs up her things to put away, engrossed in her task as she’ll be staying on board, too. She starts planning what paperwork she can forge about the ship ledgers.
Riley: Alastair leans back in his chair. “I'm bored... Rolland, let's play a game to pass the time. While we wait for those boneheads to show up.”
Chantry: “Well frankly, Alastair... I'm quite content sitting in the sun. Perhaps another time.”
Riley: Alastair throws up his hands and goes for a drink.
Jessi: Ruby looks over at Rolland. “Will you be okay, when they show up? I just...” She looks away. “I'm sorry about earlier.”
Chantry: “I'll be fine. Rodrick is the ill-tempered one.”
Jessi: “Ah... I see.” She tries to give a smile.
Riley: I'm drinking until they come… wonder how long they’ll make us wait.
The rest of the group heads to town. A short time later, another airship, much bigger and better equipped, lands nearby. The hierophant and his associates exit, and start heading directly to our ship.
Riley: Alastair, seeing them approach from the window, heads out on the walkway. He calls out in a loud voice, "I told you that you cannot be here without permission from Mr. Luther. I must insist you leave.”
The hierophant and his associates are very keen to still get on the ship. Rolland stands nearby, watching. Ruby walks out toward Alastair and the hierophant, frightened but trying to save face. She provides all the papers she can to the officials, in order to please them that Armella is no longer employed. That she—and the rest of the crew—were just temporary hires. (Not that that is a lie…if they will be re-hired later, as new muscle for the ship.) She tries to talk in roundabouts, the circle of truth active, making her incredibly anxious, as she forces half-truth answers.
Riley: While Ruby is tied up with the hierophant, Alastair takes the moment to lean over to one of the paladins and says, "Are you single?" Winks.
Chantry: Rolland begins to puff on his pipe, looking completely disinterested as to what is happening nearby.
DM: The Paladin looks at Alastair, obviously uncomfortable. He glances at Rolland, looking like a rich investor.
Riley: “You know... maybe we can go somewhere more... private.” Wink.
To make the paladin more uncomfortable he says, "I'd like to know the lay of your land." Wink wink.
DM: The Paladin cringes visibly.
Riley: He stares at the paladin with a smile, but thinking “I want them so uncomfortable that they want to leave….yesterday!
“Your friend too… he can come along. He’s just yummy.”
DM: The Paladin nudges the hierophant, and whispers to him a bit. The hierophant seems perturbed, but finally accepts the paperwork knowing he cannot inquire any further. He nods, and they all leave the way they came.
Chantry: Rolland walks up to Ruby. “Well, that went well.”
Jessi: She lets out a slightly shaky breath. “I… think that went as well as it could have.”
Riley: Alastair watches them leave, and as the airship leaves he laughs almost uncontrollably. “That was surprisingly fun.”
Jessi: “Though… I really hated that truth ring of theirs... it just made me feel all queasy.”
Riley: “Fortunately they didn't use it on me, then they wouldn't have thought I was gay. Because I would have had to tell the truth, I'm not.”
Jessi: “Thank you. Both of you. I think your... uncomfortable advances worked quite well, Alastair.”
Riley: “No problem.” Wink.
Chantry: Rolland looks surprised. “Thanking me? I didn't do anything but sit there rudely!”